Letters of Anton Chekhov (Tchekhov) - Penn State University

Anton ChekhovTO HIS SISTER.TAGANROG, April 2, 1887.The journey from Moscow to Serpuhov was dull. My fellow-travellerswere practical persons of strong character who did nothingbut talk of the prices of flour ….… At twelve o’clock we were at Kursk. An hour of waiting, a glassof vodka, a tidy-up and a wash, and cabbage soup. Change to anothertrain. The carriage was crammed full. Immediately after KurskI made friends with my neighbours: a landowner from Harkov, asjocose as Sasha K.; a lady who had just had an operation in Petersburg;a police captain; an officer from Little Russia; and a general inmilitary uniform. We settled social questions. The general’s argumentswere sound, short, and liberal; the police captain was thetype of an old battered sinner of an hussar yearning for amorousadventures. He had the affectations of a governor: he opened hismouth long before he began to speak, and having said a word hegave a long growl like a dog, “er-r-r.” The lady was injecting morphia,and sent the men to fetch her ice at the stations.At Belgrade I had cabbage soup. We got to Harkov at nine o’clock.A touching parting from the police captain, the general and theothers …. I woke up at Slavyansk and sent you a postcard. A newlot of passengers got in: a landowner and a railway inspector. Wetalked of railways. The inspector told us how the Sevastopol railwaystole three hundred carriages from the Azov line and painted themits own colour.*… Twelve o’clock. Lovely weather. There is a scent of the steppeand one hears the birds sing. I see my old friends the ravens flyingover the steppe.The barrows, the water-towers, the buildings—everything is familiarand well-remembered. At the station I have a helping of remarkablygood and rich sorrel soup. Then I walk along the platform.Young ladies. At an upper window at the far end of the stationsits a young girl (or a married lady, goodness knows which) in*See the story “Cold Blood.”55